FASHION

Ah, love. Who doesn’t need some love in their life? So who doesn’t need some Netflix Love in their life? The answer, nobody! Because Love – Judd Apatow’s new comedy – is bloody awesome. I have a big love – heart? – shaped hole in my life after binging on season one and two. Figurativing, that is. Gus is adorable. I want Bertie to be my best friend. And I’m very eager to find out if Witchita will be given the green light for another season. But most of all, I need more of Mickey’s outfit inspiration. Carhartt overalls anyone? Yes, ME please!

She rocks contemporary vintage like a pro. Baseball jackets, mini skirts with rocker boots and all those great t-shirts. Oh the t-shirt. The costume designer for the show describes Mickey’s style as “hungover Alexa Chung” which is a great description and an even better muse. There have been a few stand out moments for Mickey; the red swimsuit with jeans, the carhartt overalls – which are actress Gillian Jabob’ s own – the silver slip dress, the Modern Vice boots and the Yankees baseball jacket. Like any good wardrobe choices in a TV show or movie, I believe Mickey and what she wears. Her style adds so much to the overall character, authentic, like popular style choices today – I’ve got similar biker boots, a baseball jacket, an army jacket, overalls and many worn t-shirts! She’s cool without being try hard, you know she does like fashion, but is not a slave to it. In short, I Love her. Single white female anyone?

To get the look, hit up your local vintage stores and head to Modern Vice for some killer boots. If you haven’t watched the show yet, hurry up!

Thankfully, for our lovely feet and growing bunions, flat shoes have become a fashion staple over the last few years. It started with stylish trainers worn outside the gym, matched with skirts and suits worn in the office by day and onto the nightclub by night. And in 2016 when the Gucci loafer – in particular the sling back with fur lining – was worn by every blogger and editor worth their street style salt, we became totally obsessed with this chic shoe. And sure why wouldn’t we? They are comfy, versatile and add instant cool girl chic to any outfit. If you can’t afford the Gucci price tag head to Office or Topshop for some great styles. (FYI, you can get 25% off in Office if you pick up this week’s issue of Grazia UK). Wear with pleated skirts, trouser suits, and mom jeans for that Instagram worthy shot. Wear with whatever you want if you’re not on Instagram.

Top tip; sit on a windowsill or cross a street for the perfect Instapic, see below.

Image source: Pinterest, Intsagram, Elle, Vogue

Dublin. Ireland. What is the story? Am I hot, am I cold, is it raining, is it sunny? Who the hell knows! All I do know is I am loving pulling out my long, vintage trench coat on the mild, wet days when winter wool just won’t cut it. The trench – or mac, as we usually say – is a style stable. An item for every wardrobe, whether you are a minimalist or maximalist – isn’t the latter more fun?!

They often come in midi lengths and sometimes feel difficult to style without looking swallowed, so here are some great street style looks to help you along your rainy way.

And don’t forget your shades, your brolly, you hat and scarf. Just in case!

B xx

Image source: Pinterest, Vogue, Elle, Instagram

As a vintage shop enthusiast, I am both happy and a little sad about the vintage kilo sales that have now become common place in Dublin city. Started by the ladies at Folkster a few years back, Tola Vintage and the likes have now jumped on the bandwagon – and why wouldn’t they? – and seem to be having monthly kilo sales around the cpuntry. My happiness stems from the fact that I can go into a warehouse full of vintage – OK, its not 1920’s beaded couture that is going to be passed down as an heirloom – and poke around for hours on end, coming out with three dresses, two tops and some sort of mohair ensemble for the grand total of forty quid. Deadly. The sad part is that the way we look at vintage has changed and these kilo sales have had an impact on some of the beautiful vintage stores in the city who charge full price for all their pieces. Prices that millennials are not willing to pay as they have had cheap, easy access to ‘vintage’ clothes since they started shopping. Urban Outfitters has feed this attitude also, vintage has become ‘fast fashion’. UO sell ‘vintage’ army jackets and sequins tops, old Levis, and wax jackets. To those vintage collectors who are looking for the perfect 1020’s flapper dress with exquisite beading and a brilliant history, this is not vintage. It’s street style at best, with old clothes rather than vintage clothes. But is that being pedantic? Isn’t old vintage? With the exception of old high street – if I go to one more flea market where someone is selling an old Penneys dress as vintage I am going to scream. That is most certainly NOT vintage. I guess it is open to interpretation and I don’t think anyone who is into this fashion is going to complain about getting a few bargains for twenty quid a kilo!

So here are our WEARIT/dublin top five tips for when you are heading to your next vintage kilo sale:

Bring an IKEA bag to carry all your stuff – they sometimes have them there, but they go fast

If its pack and there are elbows at dawn, grab what you can, pile it into the IKEA bag and then find a spot to try on and edit

Look out for snags and damage – this stuff is going through the wars at a kilo sale

Watch what is on the floor – it might sound a bit gross but when people are doing point two, and editing the load they have picked up, they tend to throw what they don’t want on the floor

Don’t panic – there is no need to head to these events at 9am. They replenish all day so you can pick up some great items throughout the day

Have fun – you can pick up some really wild pieces at these sales so go for it and have fun!

Its been a windy few days. And Doris is playing havoc with our wheelie bins and our hair. The answer – to your hair issues at least – is a trusty beanie hat. Not just for the painfully cool, twenty something year old hipster in a ‘rock band’ who insists on wearing his beanie indoors. In the summer. No, this small and simple garment is as stylish as it is practical. Take note.

With the weather up and down like a yoyo – am I hot, am I cold, am I suffering from early menopause? – getting ready in the morning is becoming time consuming and a straight up pain. Maybe you are one of those super organised folks who put out your clothes the night before, but for most of us very Irish people we take a look out the window – or in 2017 check our app – to get a glimpse of the day ahead and decide last minute what to wear the office/cage.

In the morning rush – no, nobody has stuck to that ‘getting up 30 minutes early to do mediation’ new year resolution – I find myself reaching for three elements to make up an outfit. Blazer. Cropped jean – Mom or cropped flare. Court style shoe, or the 2017 variation of the court thanks to Pheobe Philo.

Why all so good? Well, a blazer can go over anything, even the most hideous or worn looking t-shirt. They are great for this weather when it gets a little hot in the office, they are comfortable, and you always look smart in a blazer. While many people cannot wear jeans to work – poor you! – the Mom jean or cropped flare seem to be the more dressy of the jean family. They can look smart – with said blazer – enough to wear to the office once paired with the right top and shoe (plenty of examples below). This brings me to the skin baring shoe. For a lot of people it is FAR too early to be showing any skin, even on your feet. But I have opted for the court shoe sans sock for some time now, given the mild January we had, and I have to say I love it! I feel I have more choice when not restricting myself to the winter boot everyday, and again, this shoe style dresses up my blazer and Mom jeans in no time – and I have no time.

Lots of inspiration for you………….

Trailing Blazers

Wear My Jeans, Mom?

The Shoe Game

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So the moral of the story is; invest in black court shoes and a black blazer, and Emmanuel Alt is the High Queen of the blazer/jeans/court shoe uniform. Watch and take notes.

MxB

Image source: Pinterest, Vogue, In Style, Elle, Instagram

Its that time of year. Again. Is it me or does it feel like the gap between award season hype is shortening every year? With this hype and the rush to the theatre to see ALL the Oscar nominated movies in a month – I have only seen La La Land, which is enough for me, I’m OBSESSED – comes the style watch. We watch in anticipation for the stars to come out in their finest and wow us while we are all wearing our flannel pj’s and warding off the post Christmas blues. So far. So so.

Like last year, nobody has taken our breath away. There have been some brilliant looks, yes, but the stars are playing it safe. They are going for pretty, not bold. Ladylike, not edgy. And you know what? That’s OK. I think we expect too much. The Golden Globes, The Baftas, they are not the Grammys. We expect some madness at the Oscars for the music industry – we can’t even breath after Beyonce’s Peter Dundas number – but why do we expect so much from the others? When, just like us, the women probably want to take these opportunities to look pretty, glamorous, classy and grown up. Crazy, edgy style has become common place. Street style is everyday. We can wear sequins before 6pm, sneakers to work, logo t-shirts to speak our mind, and fringing and feathers are not just for Saturday night. Quirky and cool is the everyday uniform, so, maybe, when there is a red carpet and everyone is watching, maybe they just want to look like the nicest version of themselves, without the bells and whistles.

While I am not comparing my life to Emma Stone (Ryan, call me!) the only experience I can compare awards season to is my wedding day. I love sequins – like, LOVE – I wear bright colours on a daily basis, I currently have an unhealthy affair with ruffles and fringing, and my friend Orla calls me Rock Chick. I was bombarded with comments like ‘I can’t wait to see your wedding dress, you’re going to be so cool’. But I wasn’t. I was me, yes. But I went for pretty. I went for classic. I channeled my inner Grace Kelly and Marilyn Monroe and went for Hollywood – BIG – hair and a traditional dress. Because I wanted to be pretty. I wanted to be grown up – I rarely dress like the 36 year old I am – I wanted to be timeless, and look back on those pictures of me walking down MY red carpet with my Dad and feel like a goddess. Knowing I will probably never look this glam again – or have a glam squad again! – and soak it up. While they do have glam squad on tap, maybe they just want to rock the red carpet and the stage receiving their awards looking like the accomplished, classy women they are.

Alessandro Michele and Gucci may have a lot more to answer for than soft, pretty ruffles and injecting pink into every aspect of our wardrobe. Maybe pretty is the new black?

And then, then there is Queen Bea. She SLAY!

Lets see what happens at the Oscars, we may all be choking on gold sequins that night.